The affordable option

Leenika and Deepak Jacob, along with Vidyut, their 13-yearold son, are enjoying their first months in their new home in Wadala, after spending two years in a rented accommodation in Navi Mumbai. This represents quite a change in normal procedure, as most people tend to stick within the same area when buying their own flat.

The thought process behind this was logical , as Deepak was now commuting to Lower Parel, so it made sense to shift closer into Mumbai proper. Wadala made sense, as it was close enough to his place of work, without being way out of budget. The other plus was that if Leenika chose to take up a job, it would definitely be in town.

The usual search had been instituted on every available weekend, searching out advertisements and going as far as Andheri to suss out promising developments . The actual booking and purchase happened with a suddenness that took both of them by surprise. It was a normal weekend, being spent in the prescribed manner when they came across their present flat, in a complex which had all the requisites of space, security, amenities like a swimming pool and clubhouse with squash etc already operational . The only hitch, if it could be called so, was that they had no choice in terms of the flat itself - it was the last available, and a 3BHK at that, when they were looking for a 4BHK.

They didn't have too much of time to ponder over the pros and cons, as the search had lasted long enough, and the school session too would be conveniently coming to an end. All of these considerations weighed enough to tip the balance towards booking the flat. Once committed, there was no turning back. Things had been set in motion , now it was up to the builder and the bank to see them finally ensconced in the house.

The usual shopping around for the loan commenced , with the even more usual glitches arising from complicated paperwork , but eventually all was sorted out for a happy conclusion. Their 90 per cent loan was underway, with a payback time of 15 years. A lot of time had elapsed in all of this, and now getting the interior work remained to be done.

Time was of the essence as by now Vidyut was admitted to a school in town, and ferrying him had become an added chore and expense. Leenika put herself wholly into the project , along with the good offices of their interior designer , and the whole place was transformed in a record time of three months. A compact flat was made to appear airy and open, a whole lot of storage spaces were built in to accommodate their extra items, and voila, they had shifted residence. When asked about the quality of life after shifting they answer in unison, "Relaxed" .

The commute for Deepak has eased up to the extent that he counts on his regular evening squash game to unwind from the day. Leenika spends time in the pool, apart from having the option of calling in for food from the excellent club cafeteria. Vidyut, the biggest gainer, has acquired a whole set of new friends and every waking moment is spent in the clubhouse, patronising varied amenities.

If there are any regrets about the shift, they are basically over the loss of greenery and planned roads, without visible encroachment . Otherwise, as Leenika puts it, "Everything is a hop or skip or at the most a jump, from here." So even though the shift was impulsive in the beginning, it has worked out just fine for the family.

The Jacobs have shifted from rented accommodation in Navi Mumbai to their new home at Wadala

The move made commuting to the workplace at Lower Parel easier

Moving to Wadala also meant buying an affordable home closer to town

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